New network on household energy in humanitarian settings

Contributed by Fran Humber
18 June 2007

The Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children is soliciting the participation of interested NGOs and others in a new network on household energy in humanitarian settings.

The Women’s Commission’s 2006 Beyond Firewood reports highlighted the complex and multi-sectoral nature of fuel-related issues in humanitarian settings, and found that effective fuel strategies require coordination across a range of agencies and actors. So far, this coordination has been lacking.

The proposed network on household energy will facilitate information-sharing and coordination of effective fuel strategies across sectors. It will draw upon the practical, field-based and/or technical input of a diverse range of members to:

  • Help identify and institutionalize solutions to the security, health, environmental and other concerns that arise around firewood collection and household energy use and provision in humanitarian settings;
  • Contribute to and enhance the work of the newly-established InterAgency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Force on Safe Access to Firewood and alternative Energy in Humanitarian Settings (SAFE);
  • Ensure the continued relevance of the Task Force’s outputs after dissolution of the Task Force SAFE in 2008;
  • Serve as an information-sharing tool for NGOs and other partners carrying out household energy-related initiatives in the field, in order to enhance communication, promote best practices and help members to avoid duplication and inefficiencies.
While the day-to-day activities of the network will be determined through consultation with members to best fit their needs, the network will function primarily via email, a list-serv and a website, with minimal in-person meetings.

We would very much appreciate knowing if your organization is interested in participating in this network. If so, it would be most helpful for all members to designate a focal point/focal points to liaise directly with the Secretariat of the network which, at its origins, will be the Women’s Commission.

The Women’s Commission would like the network to respond, from its very origins, directly to the needs and ideas of its membership. Therefore, we would like to learn from potential members what issues and activities would be most useful for the network to address. Please send any comments or ideas that your organization may have on what should be included in the network’s Terms of Reference or other guiding documents to Erin Patrick, Consultant to the Fuel and Firewood Initiative, at erinp@..., ideally before July 1, 2007. The network will formally be established shortly thereafter.

For more details open the attached information note pdf file link here (29 KB)
Categories: Humanitarian